Quick: What is the national sport of Canada?

If you answered hockey, you’re only half correct. Hockey is the national winter sport of Canada, but in the summertime, that designation goes to the sport of lacrosse. In fact, until the National Sports of Canada Act was passed in 1994, lacrosse had the title all to itself.

So, when two Cornell lacrosse players are invited to try out for the Canadian National team with the opportunity of representing their own country at the 2010 Federation of International Lacrosse World Championships, it’s a pretty big deal.Great white north: Junior midfielder Jon Thomson (35) and senior longstick midfielder Michael Howe tried out for spots on the Canadian National Team.

This past weekend, senior defender Michael Howe and junior midfielder Jonathan Thomson traveled north of the border to St. Michael’s College School in Toronto, Ontario, to compete for a spot on Team Canada. For both Howe and Thomson, the opportunity to return home was both unexpected and eye-opening.

“It definitely was a shock to begin with,” said Howe, an Ontario native. “The 55 best lacrosse players in Canada were there.”

Among those 55 were professionals who were both older and more experienced than the two Cornellians.

“[Howe and I] met a lot of the older guys, the guys that we watched growing up. The best ball players,” said Thomson, who also grew up in Ontario. “It was always a dream to play with some of those guys.”

Despite having never competed against many of the players at the tryout and being younger than many of them, as well, Howe and Thomson never felt out of place.

“Once I got there, I realized that there weren’t really any differences between the guys I was playing against and me,” Howe said. “I felt like I was right in the mix.”

Thomson credits his and Howe’s time at Cornell for the pairs’ ability to compete at such a high level.

“Mike and I worked really hard,” Thomson said. “Those older guys aren’t working out everyday like we are at Cornell. I felt like I was in good shape.”

Being in good shape was a necessity in order to make it through the rigorous three-day tryout. Over the course of the weekend, the players participated in four intersquad games in Toronto and one exhibition game against Notre Dame in Buffalo. The tryout ended with a youth clinic on Monday that was open to the public and was hosted by the coaching staff and members of the tryout roster.

For Howe and Thomson, though, all the hard work was justified by the chance to represent their home country on an international level.

Both players were present in London, Ontario, for the 2006 World Lacrosse Championship (WLC), when Canada beat the United States, 15-10. The win, which marked just the second time ever that the United States had been defeated at the WLC, provided inspiration for the two Cornell laxers.

“In 2006, the year before I came to Cornell, I got to see Canada win on our home soil. It’s kind of the dream of any player that grows up in Canada, being able to represent our country in the national spotlight,” said Howe. “To get that opportunity would just be amazing. Words really wouldn’t be able to describe.”

Thomson reiterated what Howe said, saying it too has been his dream to play for Team Canada.

Cornell fans needn’t worry, though; both Howe and Thomson still truly bleed Red. When asked whether he would prefer to win a National Championship with the Red or a World Championship for Canada, each player’s priorities were with Cornell.

“Coming so close last year, I have to get that taste out of my mouth,” said Howe, talking about the Red’s heartbreaking loss to Syracuse in last year’s National Championship. “There will always be more opportunities to try and win World Championships, but this is going to be my last chance to try and win an NCAA championship.”

Nevertheless, both players plan on continuing to pursue lacrosse success even after their tenure with Cornell is over.

“I’ve always had a love for lacrosse,” Thomson said.

The junior midfielder plans on trying a professional career after graduation.

“It’s not about the money, obviously, because we don’t get paid that much, but it’s really just to play lacrosse.”

Howe has the same goal in mind, but acknowledges that he will stay involved in the sport regardless of whether he ever plays professionally or not.

“I would definitely love to continue on [professionally], but if not, I think that I will definitely pass on my knowledge in some form. If not coaching, than in some other way.”

Howe and Thomson should know within the next week if they were added to the Team Canada roster. No matter the results, it is pretty clear that both players have bright futures in the sport that they love.